He held her close and started to run. Though she was telling him to leave her, he would do no such thing as it meant certain death. As they closed in on safety, the beasts closed in on them.
A shout went out for them to run to the walls instead of the gates. Ropes had been lowered down for them. John reached the wall, exhausted, and got Heidi to hold on to the rope. She was speedily hoisted up and carried over the battlements. John grabbed at the other rope, but felt the rush of air around him. What followed was pain: teeth were biting him from every angle. He shouted out, but held strong as the soldiers pulled him up. He heard words of encouragement from Sergeant Butcher and a volley of bullets whistling over his head.
As he was pulled up, the soldiers jabbed at the wolves which were still holding onto him. One of them fell straight off and Sergeant Butcher shot the other with a clean hit. Heidi and John were swiftly taken for medical treatment.
Captain Hayward was on the battlements with his men. The sight that greeted him was a sea of wolves as far as the eye could see. They were running around the fort a trying to find weaknesses. It was noted there were more giant wolves than before.
The word was spread that only head shots would suffice. The cannons were rapidly swung into action. There were not really enough soldiers to man all of them, though, thus their firepower was rendered almost meaningless.
The civilians in the fort were tasked with bringing ammunition to the soldiers on the walls as well as water. They were also formed into teams to help any wounded men down to the orderlies to be treated.
Each attack seemed futile as hundreds were dying right next to the battlements. The mounting pile of wolves’ bodies gave the animals a chance to clamber up their dead pack members and leap at the walls. The giant wolves were massing in the distance and the general felt it was only a matter of time before they would try to ascend the outer defences.
Major Richmond gave the order for the barracks to be secured should the fort fall. Captain Hayward took three men and made his way to the building. En route they gathered the blacksmith and two carpenters. He explained the task they had in mind; for it to work, the barracks had to be secure.
Everything was done at speed as the situation was unclear.
The general made his way around the fort, looking for any openings through which they could make a break for it. He reflected on whether they should have left a week earlier, but then pondered over them being attacked in the open with so many animals on the loose.
His mind was thrown back to the Austrian side of the fort as the wolves were starting to come over the top. As they poured onto the Eastern side, Captain Egger was given the order to retreat. The head pack members were tearing and biting at all the soldiers around them. One man was flung in the air and almost eaten whole as the wolf caught him again. They knew head shots would kill these beasts, but their movement and speed made it hard to hit their targets.
The message had come from the Austrian side to retreat and the British were starting to report wolf breaches on the Western side of the fort. There were chaotic scenes: orderlies were struggling to get the ammunition boxes open; some of them had been nailed shut and this meant there was a shortage of bullets.
Captain Hayward gave the order to take as much ammunition to the barracks as possible. As he did this a grey flash sprang from the wall above and landed on top of him. He held back its head as it tried to bite his face. It was not one of the larger wolves, but it was still a handful. His Adams revolver came to the rescue, with difficulty, he drew it out of his gun holster and shot the animal in the head.
He rolled the dead animal off. The Bugler gave the sound of the retreat and everyone began to fall back to the barracks. There was still an army of wolves outside the fort trying to get in. Some of the larger ones were just running at the gates, crunching their bodies against the wood and then starting the whole process over again. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of wolves lay dead outside, but this did not affect their numbers.
Hand to hand fighting was spreading everywhere as they retreated: men versus wolves. Major Richmond was with Corporal Smith and several other men manning an Armstrong cannon on the battlements. Sergeant Butcher tried to get word to them to leave the cannon as the fort was being overrun and the last place to retreat to was the barracks.
Major Richmond and three soldiers kept on firing from a fixed turret at the corner of the defences. The cannon was having some success with the large wolves, blowing them to smithereens when hit. The problem they were having with the Armstrong gun was the fact it was a breech-loading cannon and the design was not quick enough for the situation they were in. If it had been a muzzle loading cannon it would have meant a more rapid rate of fire, but the cannon was at least allowing soldiers and civilians to fall back to the barracks. As they reloaded, a giant wolf leapt up onto the turret and lashed out at a gunner’s back. He managed to push the wolf back, but did not deter it.
Major Richmond stepped forward and plunged his sword into the wolf’s chest. It sank to the ground but its eyes were still wild and full of life. He was quick to react, pulling out his revolver and shooting the animal in the head.
More wolves were pouring onto the turret and it was starting to be swamped. The wounded soldier lay on the floor and tried to help the other men load the cannon. The major gave the signal to start firing their rifles as it was time to retreat to the barracks.
They fixed bayonets and made haste towards the stone steps leading down to the courtyard. The fort was teeming with animals now. Some men had been forced into cabins and storage huts as the onslaught increased.
The civilian quarters were not that well protected, but some people had still made their way in there. Corporal Smith had reacted to this and tried to persuade everyone to follow the soldiers to the barracks, but unfortunately that moment had passed and now he was trapped in the building with ten bullets and his Snider Enfield rifle.
Inside the building he had found three men and two women holding a small child. His spoken Austrian was limited, but it was enough to take them all upstairs and barricade themselves into a room. Corporal Smith put down his rifle as they grabbed what they could to block the entrance. There was a steady sound of something coming up the stairs. It took just seconds before it was pounding at the door. The ferocity of the attack was amazing; bits of wood started to split and break.
The three men and the corporal pushed back against it while one of the women picked up the rifle and shot through the door. She said, in broken English, “Farmer’s daughter.”
The noise on the other side stopped and she passed back the rifle for Corporal Smith to reload.
The sound on the other side was different to a wolf panting or growling. It was more of a groaning sound and a shuffling scrape. They moved a large wardrobe in front of the broken panels and then anything else that was free. The banging stopped.
There was an attic hatch which the small child had seen and was pointing to. This was seized upon and the men set about trying to open it. When they paused, all they could hear was their own heartbeat.
The barrack doors were shut hard as wolves tried to break in. They began to scratch at the doors with such vigour and determination that all eyes followed the sound. The general tried to assess their situation. The barn had horses in it, but the rest were in the stables. He had sent some soldiers to hold out in both places.
Every window and door in the barracks was being reinforced from within. Snipers were going out onto the roof to shoot down on the attacking force, but this could offer an element of risk as there were opportunities for the wolves to get across from adjacent buildings.
Unfortunately there were many soldiers and civilians still stranded outside the barracks. They were either trying to get into the nearest building or fighting their ground. One problem with this was lack of numbers as even the strongest man could not hold back so many. The bigger problem was the larger wolves, which were more powerful than a bear and twice as deadly as a lion. These la
rger creatures had got themselves into key positions around the fort. From there they howled and grunted. It was almost as if they were controlling the beasts around them.
Major Richmond knew they had to move fast. The fort was awash with the enemy and they were gaining the upper hand on anyone left in the open. An Austrian soldier saw that they were still manning the cannon and made a break for it. He dropped his rifle and sprinted to the blacksmith’s workshop. Halfway there three wolves brought him down, the screams and the tearing of flesh could be heard inside every building. There was nothing anyone could do. Within seconds three wolves soon became twenty to thirty.
In the barracks, women and children started to become upset. Captain Egger tried to control their wavering emotions, but anxiety levels were high and nerves had become frayed.
It was too far for Major Richmond and his men to join the others, so they decided to get to the stables. They knew a contingency plan had been put in place for some Austrian Engineers to guard the horses and protect them as long as they could.
He grabbed the wounded gunner and asked if he could make it across the open square towards the stables. He gave a nod and was helped to his feet by his fellow soldiers. The major loaded his Adams revolver and grabbed what ammunition he could, instructing the others to do the same. A second or two was used to gain composure and then they moved with speed down the stone steps leading from the turret. The wounded man was being helped by a soldier to keep their speed up as they did not want to attract any attention until they were in full flight.
When they hit the parade square wolves started to come at them. The Adams revolver came in handy as the major was able to pick off several creatures before they got close enough to attack. Then he ordered two soldiers to shoot and then reload as they made their way to the stables while he covered them.
He thought the gods were smiling on them as this pattern gave them time to reach a stable door and shout for them to be opened. At first, when no one came, panic set in as the wolves started to home in on them like buzzards on a dead carcass.
They pressed their backs against the walls.
“Make every round count, men.” said Major Richmond.
Even the wounded soldier had raised himself up and was given his rifle. All four of them were firing in turns: two fired; two loaded. This laid down a constant rate of fire. Wolves were appearing from rooftops and over the walls and the main gates had started to split as giant wolves burst through.
“If no one opens the doors, Private Jones should smash them in. We will die very quickly out here in the open.”
Major Richmond’s assessment was based on the sheer numbers of wolves now flowing towards them. Their eyes were stone-cold black and their canine teeth looked sharp and menacing. Several wolves started to back up around the men and were only kept back by bayonets. Each wolf was studying its victim and searching for a weakness before launching itself at the soldiers.
Their grey coats looked in good condition, so food had obviously not been much of a problem recently. The fur on their backs was standing up and the sound of mass growling made everyone focus that little bit more.
It was only then that the door behind them opened. “Come in, quickly,” an Austrian soldier told them. Two other soldiers stood behind him and they fired at the wolves as the men retreated into the stable.
They explained that some wolves were trying to dig underneath the stable from the other side so all of them had been busy trying to secure this area. One of them thought he had heard shouts and banging on the door so they had come as soon as they could.
Once inside, the wounded soldier was helped onto some bails to rest. They had to stop the bleeding and clean his wounds the best they could with limited medical supplies. An Austrian came forward and introduced himself and Corporal Heinz. He was in charge of holding out the stables for as long as he could. The general had said the horses might be the only chance they would all have of escaping this nightmare.
The building was a fair size and had many spooked animals in it; the horses were all stirring and restless in their boxes. You could cut the tension with a knife. Some of the soldiers were trying to calm them the best they could, but it was a losing battle. The wolves were howling again outside and this time every man, woman and child knew the fort now belonged to the wolves.
“If we can make it through the night we might have a chance.”
“You could be right, Corporal Heinz.” Major Richmond said whilst stroking his chin.
They had some food and water in the stables, but only limited ammunition.
Outside the wolves were running amok. Some were eating the carcasses of dead soldiers and anything else that was not a wolf. The noise of animals fighting over food and feeding was unsettling.
Captain Hayward was perplexed that they had all split up around the different buildings. No one was sure of casualties and it was going to take a massive effort to stop sheer desperation from taking over. The wolves had not given up and were moving around like rats outside, biting, pawing and banging at the doors, windows and walls. The real problem lay with the giant wolves. These creatures had the size and weight to cause real problems if they repeatedly threw themselves at the entrances.
The hospital wing within the barracks was filling up fast with bite victims. It was being run by one Austrian military doctor who, with the help of some nurses, was assisting the wounded.
The general had arranged it that everyone who could fire a rifle would get one should the building start to fall. It was going to be the only way – fight to the last. He summoned the captains and sergeants to have a brief meeting in his quarters.
“Gentlemen, we are facing something extraordinary. We must come up with a plan to get the women and children to the stables and onto the wagons and away from here.”
Captain Hayward nodded in agreement. He was concerned for Major Richmond and his men, but he knew he was a good officer and would do his utmost to get them to safety.
“General, how long do you think we can hold out?”
There was a pause.
“Not long, my friend.”
With that, they quickly drew a map of the inside of the fort and where each building lay. The best way to get people out would be a distraction that would more than likely involve men shooting from the rooftops and a group going out, leading the families to the stables.
It was a risky plan, but at that moment in time it was all they had.
As soon as the ink had dried, a tremendous bang was heard at a side entrance. The general turned to the officers and sergeants and shook their hands.
“It’s starting.”
General Von Bloch left his quarters to join the others. The soldiers were split into groups of four. Two soldiers would fire and two would load. This way they could lay down a constant barrage of bullets should the wolves break in.
Orderlies were handing out ammunition to everyone with a gun. The different bangs and crunching sounds could be heard all over the building. The wolves weren’t concentrating their attack on one place, it seemed; it was spread out.
The general put on his favourite parade coat. It was very ceremonial and covered in medals, but he wanted to go out in full glory.
Corporal Smith was still with the civilians. Most of them had made it into the attic, but he was the last to climb up. He was waiting for a surge from the wolves on the door, but it never came, just a shuffling outside and the odd murmur. This kept him from going up into the attic. It puzzled him: Why weren’t they trying to break in?
He lowered his rifle. The Austrians were calling down to him to come up quickly as they wanted to shut the hatch. Corporal Smith ignored them for the time being, though, and even had the nerve to lean the rifle against the wall.
He slowly made his way over to the small hole in the door, the same hole the women had shot through. He waited a second or two. His tunic was half unbuttoned, so he patiently did it up. Sweat was starting to run from his helmet and his hands felt clammy. He t
ook a deep breath and leaned forward, his eyes taking a second to adjust to the darkness on the other side. There was nothing: no wolves, no movement; just emptiness. He took his head away and lifted up his helmet.
What followed was a snapping sound and a roar, then a long tongue came through the hole and licked around it in a feverish way. The wood was then hit hard and continuously. It was a crazed assault. He stood there, frozen to the spot. The door started to shake and the furniture moved under the pressure being exerted on it.
A hand smashed through the hole. It had long nails and the flesh was decaying. The smell hit him; it was rotten, as if something had died and its odour was then being relinquished. A mouth with broken teeth then came to the opening, snapping and biting in a manic way, the tongue almost tasting the air.
He could not move; he was still in shock. When a hand touched him on the shoulder he jumped and fell forward to grab his rifle. It was an elderly man and he looked worried about the bayonet now pointing at his chest.
They wasted no time by looking at what was trying to come through the door, and instead made their way up through the hatch.
The corporal did not saying anything to the others as he wasn’t sure himself what was trying to come in. The old man was happy to be back with the others, and he led the Royal Engineer to the other side of the attic. They had seen a way to climb into a storeroom and maybe reach the stables.
One of the women was carrying a lantern and had her child tucked under her arm. She was leading the way when she slipped through a rotten panel in the attic. The women automatically grabbed for her small boy. In doing so, the lantern slipped from her grasp, rolled and smashed into a corner beam. Flames instantly started to shoot up. The others tried to put it out, but the dry wood and ceiling did not need an excuse to combust.
Fire was spreading rapidly all around them, but it was the smoke that was more dangerous. They continued out of the attic and onto the roof. The building was starting to burn and the fire was spreading from room to room.
Europe Has Fallen Page 3
